TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL Ohio State's defense has to deliver

Kansas State has a potent offense led by a multi-talented quarterback.
By ROB TODOR
VINDICATOR SPORTS EDITOR
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The challenge for the Ohio State defense in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Friday night against Kansas State will be to shut down one of the country's most explosive offenses in football.
To do so, the Buckeyes will face a multi-talented and experienced quarterback, senior Ell Roberson, who has the ability to beat teams in a variety of ways.
Roberson, an honorable mention All-American this season, was the only quarterback in the country to pass for more than 2,000 yards and rush for more than 900.
His effectiveness is not limited to designed running plays; his ability to scramble and create big plays out of broken ones is the wild card the Buckeye defense must control.
"We have to treat him not only as a quarterback, but as a second tailback," said Ohio State senior nose tackle Tim Anderson.
Diverse, explosive
The Wildcats will be the most diverse and explosive offense Ohio State has faced this season, the Michigan result notwithstanding.
Tailback Darren Sproles rushed for 1,948 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Wide receiver James Terry had 60 receptions for 1,174 yards and 13 scores. But Roberson's two-pronged abilities make the 'Cats go. He rushed for 943 yards and scored 13 TDs, and completed 132 of 243 passes for 2,251 yards and 24 touchdowns.
If there has been a negative to Roberson's game, it's his tendency to try to do too much. He threw 11 interceptions. Still, K-State finished the regular season ranked sixth in the nation in rushing offense and 18th in total offense, and the 'Cats' 37.2 points per game was eighth-best in the country.
Coach's keys
"It's going to be a huge task for us," said Buckeyes defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio. "The most critical thing for us will be to make tackles," Dantonio said. "After a long layoff [since the Michigan loss] the change of speed [from practice] will be our biggest adjustment.
"The other keys will be to come up with turnovers and to eliminate the big play," he said.
Senior linebacker Darrion Scott said the defense can't focus on either Roberson or Sproles.
"This game will be about stopping the run, period," he said. "I really believe this is the best offense we'll face running the ball."
Cornerback Dustin Fox said his focus is mostly on the passing game. It's not likely Fox will be matched up with Terry -- that assignment will go to Chris Gamble.
"Roberson is so good at scrambling and making something happen," Fox said. "He's very good at making plays on the run, so for me personally, it's important that I stay with my coverage and help out against the run whenever I can."
Broken plays
Roberson's scrambling ability, in fact, concerns All-American defensive end Will Smith more than anything else.
"When he starts scrambling, I have to keep him inside of me," explained Smith, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, "so that, even if I don't make a play on him, I push him to our defensive tackles and linebackers in the middle of the field.
"The thing is, most quarterbacks, when nobody is open, will panic," Smith said. "Not [Roberson] -- he's thinking about turning a broken play into a good play, or even a great play."
Kansas State co-offensive coordinator Greg Peterson saw a change in Roberson during his junior season.
"Before we played Southern Cal [in the fourth game of 2002] I saw a new Ell, in terms of his commitment, his maturity and his focus," said Peterson. "Then, in the spring [of 2003] he became a true leader. His leadership has come front and center."
todor@vindy.com